Why are Barbie's clothing styles so cheap and tacky looking nowadays?

[CindyAC]

I can't help but notice that many of Barbie's clothing styles are cheap and tacky looking nowadays.

Compare those styles to the styles that Barbie wore in the 90s and 2000s.

What happened? Do today's parents approve of this?

 

[DJStarstryker]

That leopard print dress outfit looks like something one of those fake, off-brand "Barbies" sold at dollar stores would wear. That's really ugly.

 

[Alienfish]

That leopard print dress outfit looks like something one of those fake, off-brand "Barbies" sold at dollar stores would wear. That's really ugly.

ksksksi have to agree. but yeah compared to like even any barbie before like latest decade they def. do look like something fake ones.

And I'm probably off the hook but maybe it's less of a popular toy so they don't put effort, or they just want it as cheapskate as possible.

 

[Lady Timpani]

And I'm probably off the hook but maybe it's less of a popular toy so they don't put effort, or they just want it as cheapskate as possible.

This is probably it. I collect the holiday edition Barbies, which used to be very nicely made, but after 2015 they suddenly became super cheap-looking. They also look like the off-brand Barbies you’d pick up at Kmart. It makes me really sad.

 

[Alienfish]

This is probably it. I collect the holiday edition Barbies, which used to be very nicely made, but after 2015 they suddenly became super cheap-looking. They also look like the off-brand Barbies you’d pick up at Kmart. It makes me really sad.

Yeah I used to have some cool barbies as a kid including my mom's old ones and they were damn dank i tell ya.

yeah we have lots off offbrand fakes here and they are just...why..

 

[demoness]

because we're cheap and tacky

 

[Bcat]

this is giving me major nostalgia because I had that orange and red outfit on the leftmost barbie in the third pic

 

[Tao]

And I'm probably off the hook but maybe it's less of a popular toy so they don't put effort, or they just want it as cheapskate as possible.

I would imagine this. I've never had any interest in Barbie, but it was "one of those things" you just always heard or saw "back in the day". I can't even recall the last time I would have seen anything to do with Barbie before this thread, so assuming sales are nowhere near as high as they used to be, I don't imagine they would put as much effort into the production.

Maybe 'social norms' has a bit to do with it too. Barbie was always based around the latest fashion and there's always something standout in past decades. I can't really think of any massive fashion trend it could have latched on to within the past couple of years with people more connected and open to just wearing whatever they want.

I hope they get desperate for ideas and release Black Metal Barbie.

 

[LambdaDelta]

barbie held hostage to entertain ken's football friends

 

[ali.di.magix]

When weren't Barbies cheap and tacky looking lmao. Out of all the dolls available in my childhood, Barbies always had the worse clothing and looks in my opinion.

 

[Alienfish]

I would imagine this. I've never had any interest in Barbie, but it was "one of those things" you just always heard or saw "back in the day". I can't even recall the last time I would have seen anything to do with Barbie before this thread, so assuming sales are nowhere near as high as they used to be, I don't imagine they would put as much effort into the production.

Maybe 'social norms' has a bit to do with it too. Barbie was always based around the latest fashion and there's always something standout in past decades. I can't really think of any massive fashion trend it could have latched on to within the past couple of years with people more connected and open to just wearing whatever they want.

I hope they get desperate for ideas and release Black Metal Barbie.

No we already had like tacky sports and leggings weird fashion so yeah 2000s/2010s are not that unique really.

yes man pls do ittt aaa

 

[Alienfish]

Also that leopard dress ON the shirt is so ugly.. i hate that fashion.. 90s kids unite against it lol

 

[Reginald Fairfield]

I did just see a video talking about "earring magic Ken". Tacky isn't the first word that comes to mind. I don't think I should post the vid here. Apparently researchers went to raves to get ideas for that outfit. Frosted hair, purple leather jacket, lilac mesh shirt underneath.

 

[Alienfish]

I did just see a video talking about "earring magic Ken". Tacky isn't the first word that comes to mind. I don't think I should post the vid here. Apparently researchers went to raves to get ideas for that outfit. Frosted hair, purple leather jacket, lilac mesh shirt underneath.

ohh my god why did i google that... yeah tacky dolls reached a new height lol.

probably to reflect some weird rap and hiphop fashion lol

 

[LambdaDelta]

I did just see a video talking about "earring magic Ken". Tacky isn't the first word that comes to mind. I don't think I should post the vid here. Apparently researchers went to raves to get ideas for that outfit. Frosted hair, purple leather jacket, lilac mesh shirt underneath.

looking up, and wow, I can't believe they released a gay pride ken

 

[Reginald Fairfield]

looking up, and wow, I can't believe they released a gay pride ken

I didn't even mention the "circular charm" on his necklace. as wikipedia put it.

 

[Alienfish]

looking up, and wow, I can't believe they released a gay pride ken

so it was that, i think he looked more like some tacky rap artist.

 

[LambdaDelta]

so it was that, i think he looked more like some tacky rap artist.

observational half-jokes aside, it actually does seem to incorporate some gay stuff. though unintentionally, and they pulled and wiped it from their official history right after realizing the context that could be applied to it

so lmao, +1 point for queer culture

 

[Alienfish]

observational half-jokes aside, it actually does seem to incorporate some gay stuff. though unintentionally, and they pulled and wiped it from their official history right after realizing the context that could be applied to it

so lmao, +1 point for queer culture

yeah i read the whole text there later on, so i guess that's good indeed but yeah doesn't mean the design was good though so i guess it's just old elephant in the room discovered late lol

 

[Noctis]

Like my mom says everything made now is all cheap made unlike back in the days where everything to her was top notch quality.